St. Patrick Continues to Help Us Keep The Risen Christ Close During Our Work Day

We've been considering this prayer - the Lorica - of St. Patrick as a way to keep the Risen Christ close during our work day. let's continue...

We're still in the verses that talk of rising. These take up a bulk of the prayer. There's a lesson for us here.

Our rising each day launches us into our daily routine. If rising is disorderly, the day may very well follow suit. So we like to set a time to rise and stick to it, right?

First of all, the discipline of just getting up when the time comes takes us out of ourselves. Ideally, we can express some sort of intention like "All for Thee," when our mind clears sufficiently. Right away, we're connected with God. And with that, knowing He's with us right there, we get sufficient motivation to set aside any lazy tendencies and work our way to upright from prone. 

And doesn't this set us up well for a productive work day. We've booted laziness out the door right from the get-go. And done as a matter of daily habit, this will spill over into the rest of the day. 

That should work well, no?

Indeed for those of us who include our daily prayer, meditation, reading Scripture and good spiritual works, studying the truths of our Catholic religion, etc. (our so-called Norms of Piety), this getting up on time is essential. We need time for our spiritual exercise, perhaps even some physical exercise. And the clock is relentless unless we stay on top of it.

Not sure if St. Patrick had any of these particular thoughts, but he sure knows that rising is a critical part of each day, given how much time he devotes to it in his Lorica. We saw this last time. Now he goes on: 

I arise today, through
God’s strength to pilot me,
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptation of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and near.

If we do have our morning wake-up discipline in hand, if we subsequently launch into some spiritual and/or physical exercise, we will be somewhat prepared for good day at work. "Somewhat" prepared for a good day because our efforts, while important, are only a beginning. The words of the Lorica get right down to what really matters: God's Hand in guiding and strengthening us, as well as the suffcient Grace He will give in every moment of our day. In the simple, direct words of this prayer we are given a thorough lesson in all that God can and will do for us this day.

Who in their right mind would want to forge ahead into the challenges work typically presents without God?

We will continue with more of St. Patrick's Lorica next time...

Happy Easter!